Derek Haines

A Cambridge CELTA English teacher and author with a passion for writing and all forms of publishing. My days are spent writing and blogging, as well as testing and taming new technology.

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What Are Grammatical Moods

What Are Grammatical Moods In Writing And How To Use Them

Grammatical moods indicate the purpose of a sentence by using specific verb forms. Contrary to what you might think, a mood in grammar has nothing to do with emotions, feelings, or sentiments. Moods define a phrase’s intent, including functions such as facts, commands, doubts, uncertainties, or conditions. Understanding how to use these choices can help…

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Self-Publish Very Short Books

How To Self-Publish Very Short Books In Print And Ebook

Very short books of fiction include pamphlets, novelettes, flash fiction, or short stories. With nonfiction, it could include essays, academic texts, or guides and manuals. Many of these generally have a word count of between 1,000 words and 5,000 words. But this can cause a problem when you try to self-publish due to word count…

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They As The Third-Person Singular Pronoun

Using They As The Third-Person Singular Personal Pronoun

It is becoming common now to use THEY as an alternative third-person singular pronoun because English doesn’t have a gender-neutral equivalent. Of the three third-person singular pronouns, both HE and SHE are gender-specific. However, IT is only suitable for objects, things, and perhaps animals. But utilizing they requires a little bit of writing skill because…

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Morning Suit And Mourning Suit

Morning Suit And Mourning Suit – Are Both Of Them Correct?

Morning suit and mourning suit can both be correct depending on the context. For fiction writers, in particular, it’s essential to use these two attire descriptions correctly. Morning and mourning are homophones, but with obvious differences in meaning. But how do they apply to how men dress for formal occasions or ceremonies? Origins and usage…

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